Developers Safran, Honeywell Estimate Four Percent Total Fuel
Savings For easyJet
A new electric green taxiing system (EGTS) will be tested by
easyJet, which claims to be the UKs largest airline. The EGTS,
developed in collaboration with Honeywell and Safran, will save the
carrier an estimated 4% in its overall fuel burn. With an average
taxi time per flight of 20 minutes, the companies say that the fuel
saved will be the equivalent of 3.5 million flight miles a
year.
The first operational trials are expected to start in 2013.
Honeywell and Safran are targeting to offer the electric green
taxiing system either on new aircraft or as a retrofit solution to
in-service aircraft as early as 2016. The development and trial
will help establish whether the estimated savings can be realised
and also quantify other benefits. easyJet will also assist in
establishing the airline standard operational procedures for
aircraft equipped with the system.
“easyJet is always seeking innovative ways of reducing our
environmental footprint as well as our operating costs so this
technology is of great interest to us," said Ian Davies, Head of
Engineering and Maintenance, easyJet. "This collaboration with
Honeywell and Safran allows us to bring our ... experience of high
frequency and high levels of operational performance to the
partnership to ensure that the solution meets our
needs.”
The EGTS allows aircraft to taxi without requiring the use of
aircraft engines by using the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) generator
to power motors in the main wheels. Each of the aircraft’s
powered wheels is equipped with an electromechanical actuator,
while unique power electronics and system controllers give pilots
total control of the aircraft’s speed, direction and braking
during taxi operations. The system would therefore reduce, if not
remove altogether, the need for tugs to maneuver aircraft in and
out of stands.
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